Lyrical masters battle for top spots in auditions.

The performances were part of auditions to select four artists who will be given the opportunity to perform in front of capacity crowds at this year’s Red Square DJ Knockout annual festival to be held at Dickenson Park, Vereeniging on December 16th.

The auditions were a joint project between Emfuleni Local Municipality’s Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Library Information Services and Parks and Cemeteries (SRACLIS), DJ Mochacho’s G-Mission Entertainment and Red Square.

They were aimed at unearthing exciting talent in the local Hip Hop scene and grant an opportunity to these acts to showcase their talent to the masses.The four winning MCs were selected from a tough line-up of over 50 artists who all tried their luck at the auditions.

Ultimately, Xolani Radebe from Evaton North, Stanley Mofokeng from Zone 3, Andile Ramaidi and Harvey Kubheka both from Zone 14 were crowned kings of the auditions.They will now take their exhilarating performances to the Red Square DJ Knockout annual festival in Dickenson Park on Reconciliation Day.

The panel of judges for the day comprised of DJ Mochacho (Founder of G-Mission Entertainment), OB, a Hip Hop DJ from Thetha FM and DJ East from Zone 14.SRACLIS Assistant Manager Mary Makwetlane said her department had a role to play in identifying and supporting local talent.

“For those who performed here and didn’t make it, it’s not the end of the world. Thank you for doing your best, you really made an effort to go through,” she said.One of the four selected performers, Kubheka, stage-name ‘Michael Angelo’, said he had been producing his own work in recent years, with a strong focus on writing.

He bemoaned the cost of producing demo-tracks as studio time was extremely expensive, leaving up and coming artists unable to afford to make music.“We’re building a legacy and looking for more shows to showcase our music,” he said.